Kidnapping suspect who escaped from hospital caught in Indiana

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Â? A kidnapping suspect who overpowered a sheriff's deputy and commandeered a number of cars to elude authorities for two days was captured Friday in Indiana, police said.

Gary Johnson, 36, was taken into custody by FBI agents at a pay phone in Indianapolis, Nashville police announced in a statement released Friday afternoon.

Johnson had been arrested Tuesday night after being accused of kidnapping a pair of women.

He was hospitalized later that night for breathing difficulties and he attacked the female sheriff's deputy guarding his hospital room and stole her gun Wednesday afternoon.

He led Nashville authorities across the city the rest of the night, first stealing a van outside the hospital, then hitching a ride and then carjacking or commandeering a number of vehicles.

Before his arrest, he was last seen at a truck stop in Bowling Green, Ky., after making his way north on Interstate 65.

Police said Johnson called his sister in Nashville from the pay phone, and she passed the number to police, WSMV-TV reported. Other family members also told police that he wanted to surrender.

Nashville Detective Paul Harris called Johnson on the phone and kept him on the line while authorities in Indiana traced the location of the phone and arrested him.

None of the various drivers and passengers he encountered during his flight on Wednesday were harmed. Police said Johnson ditched the gun he stole from the deputy and was unarmed when arrested Friday.

Police first arrested Johnson Tuesday night after they say he held a pair of women against their will after asking them for a ride.

When police pulled over the car, one woman escaped while Johnson held the other by the neck. A police officer sneaked up to the car and was able to shock Johnson with a Taser, allowing the other woman to escape.

Police said Johnson, who was not armed, was transported to Metro General Hospital because he was having difficulty breathing.

Metro General Hospital has a secure ward for prisoners and suspects, but Johnson was placed in a private room on the floor below.

Reginald Coopwood, the hospital's CEO, told The Tennessean that the reason may have been a staffing issue Â? the jail ward had no patients at the time and another nurse would have been required to staff the unit for Johnson.

At the time of his arrest on Tuesday, Johnson was already wanted on suspicion of aggravated burglary. Johnson also was on parole for a cocaine conviction in 1992, the television station reported. He has previously absconded twice while on parole.